Remember the T6, loved riding the Q4, well they are still running as RIDE ON's 42/46 and 48 respectively, but there are other routes that are completely gone, like the A13, A15, N7, N9, 60, 6. Many were gone due to low ridership or turned over to the local gubments or even replaced somewhat by metrorail. I have a few of these schedules from years past, but better yet I remember riding a lot of these routes as well as some of the other guys that grew up in the DC area. A few of the old routes that I road were as follows.
Q4-Even though this is now the Ride On 48, this route was pretty cool, and still is pretty cool to ride.
T6-If this route ran WMATA might have had to buy more artics as this route had some crowds on it.
18A-This was the route where I first got a ride on an 8V new look. Surprising I caught it at Landmark. How funny is that?
The old C2-As it is now, packed as hell back then. Up to the 92s at least, this route had some of the newer equipment (at least what I always saw anyway). One long a** route too.
I am sure others got some memories of these long bygone routes.
I remember taking the 5B when it was still running out to Tysons. It was a nice quick ride from Rosslyn out to the mall. If only it were that easy to get out there now. Metro Center still had schedules for it even this year after it was discontinued a couple years ago or so.
Let's see:
R4: Calverton to Crystal City. I remember riding that one as a youngin
J8: Beltway Plaza to Wheaton Plaza. Rode this one to death before the C2 was extended from Montgomery Mall to Beltway Plaza. Back then they wanted the bus to bypass PG Plaza and head straight down Univ. Blvd. as it does now, but a lot of civic associations including one my dad was involved with persuaded the board otherwise and maintained that service.
Q8: Montgomery Mall to Silver Spring
R2: Brookland to Calverton with short turns at PG Plaza
R6: Brookland to Lewisdale
R7: Brookland to Highview peak hours only
F9: Lewisdale to DC via Riggs Road. I remember my dad taking this bus a lot
M6: Rosslyn to Union Station. Now pretty much the 38B. I rode this a bit when my mom worked in Rosslyn in the late 70's.
D everything to Sibley Hospital. I think literally every D line ran out there at some point.
J2/4: Montgomery Mall to Beltway Plaza
C8: Aspen Hill to Montgomery Mall
C6: Montgomery College to Aspen Hill
Oh man I could go on and on, the memories!!
I also forgot some fairly recent ones:
C18 Branch Ave. to Waldorf. Neat that it even ran on Saturdays
B11: Rosslyn to Bethesda. That route was doomed from the beginning though. Never had that much ridership. Nice try though.
Since I've been in the area only since late '96, I don't remember many. I do recall the C18 in it's last days with Orion VIs. Also as Perry mentioned the B11 running nearly empty. I used to see it regularly on my drive home from work. Other than those I'd have to say the 14's (Smartmover). It was cool when Montgomery had those Smartmover 4400 series Orion Vs.
The time the crew went on the C18 we had 9834 I think.
That R4 must have been extremely long to take. Could any of these routes be brought back and succeed today if the money was there?
Quote from: Scrabbleship on August 05, 2008, 12:01:45 AM
That R4 must have been extremely long to take. Could any of these routes be brought back and succeed today if the money was there?
I think the unpredictable 14th Street bridge would make such a route very unreliable.
Quote from: WayneNYC on August 05, 2008, 12:04:17 AM
Quote from: Scrabbleship on August 05, 2008, 12:01:45 AM
That R4 must have been extremely long to take. Could any of these routes be brought back and succeed today if the money was there?
I think the unpredictable 14th Street bridge would make such a route very unreliable.
I had meant more like the B11, C18, Smartmover, old M6, J2 east of Silver Spring, T6, Q4 etc.
I can't really speak on the others, but it's too bad the Smartmover buses couldn't be saved and allowed to use the I-495 shoulder in VA. The old N7/9 must've been fun rides. I drive over much of those routes on the Clara Barton and Canal Road to/from work.
B11 failed because it was a reverse peak directional service during rush hours only. I think it could have potential if it ran at least 6 AM to 7 PM in both directions on weekdays, and weekend service couldn't hurt. It would probably need to be just Friendship Heights to Rosslyn, with the route extended up to Medical Center in the peak hours.
The SmartMover failed because VA wouldn't allow it to use the beltway shoulders, whereas Maryland did. As a result, you had a choice between sitting in traffic on the bus, or sitting in traffic in your own car. Most people chose the latter option.
Quote from: WayneNYC on August 05, 2008, 12:15:24 AM
I can't really speak on the others, but it's too bad the Smartmover buses couldn't be saved and allowed to use the I-495 shoulder in VA. The old N7/9 must've been fun rides. I drive over much of those routes on the Clara Barton and Canal Road to/from work.
Isn't Virginia trying to pass legislation to allow buses on shoulders? If it passes, would it be wise to bring the Smartmover back, if anything as a basic shuttle from the Red Line?
The C18 could, but actually the MTA I believe has a route that pretty much does that now during peak times.
Some of the other routes were local and I don't think they would work. It would be nice if one of the 30s was extended to Rosslyn as Wes has advocated for. I always thought a 38A that went across Whitehurst then down K would be a nice 'express' type route bypassing Georgetown.
Quote from: Perry on August 04, 2008, 11:58:23 PM
The time the crew went on the C18 we had 9834 I think.
LOL I remember when we did a trip on the C18. The weird thing is I literally just saw 9834 on the Q2 this morning!
I caught a ride on the N11/13 before it was cut...interesting concept and I think it would work well on the new Wilson Bridge, maybe stopping at National Harbor to keep it in demand :-)
Anyone remember the Haines Point bus? I think it was called HP2. It was some sort of shuttle that ran around. Also the State Department used to have Metrobuses run routes between there and Rosslyn to the government buildings in the area as well as up towards Dupont Circle. Since my mom worked for the Gov't. at the time we'd take the #13, usually a Fishbowl over to State Dept. They'd usually use a 35' AM General on the 14.
Back in the day (before many of you were even born - lol) DC Transit ran some real interesting rush hour expresses:
1. "fishbowl" suburbans (just like the one in my avatar - wheel covers and all) from Silver Spring terminal (the old Silver Spring Armory) to what is now the NRC in Germantown. At that time it was called the Atomic Energy Commission and so read the destination sign on the bus.
2. The "A9" Livingston express from Federal Triangle out S. Capitol Street to the Livingston area of far SE DC near the border with Oxon Hill.
3. The Franklin Avenue express from Federal Triangle to Franklin Avenue and University Blvd. in Silver Spring by way of 13th Street/Piney Branch Road. At the time 13th Street NW was one way northbound or southbound during the rush hours and it was a very fast trip.
That Franklin Ave express sounds real interesting. Reversing 13th Street for one-way peak direction flow sounds like a good idea that probably shouldn't have been discontinued. I've only seen those GMC suburbans in pics. Did they have manual trannys? I do remember seeing a few of WMATA 100 series new look Flxible suburbans in their last days.
I might still have an A9 schedule, though it might be different then what it was but I think I still have that schedule.
Quote from: WayneNYC on August 06, 2008, 09:03:41 PM
That Franklin Ave express sounds real interesting. Reversing 13th Street for one-way peak direction flow sounds like a good idea that probably shouldn't have been discontinued. I've only seen those GMC suburbans in pics. Did they have manual trannys? I do remember seeing a few of WMATA 100 series new look Flxible suburbans in their last days.
IIRC, didn't M Street have a similar configuration during rush hour to reflect traffic flow.
The 100 series Flixbles were great, especially when they showed up on the Q2 during rush hours. LOL. Back when the Riggs Road line was the R8, they'd show up there from time to time back in the day.
LOL I rode a 100 series before on the Q2 (I think it was #112 to be exact)! Also rode it on the N7/9 to Montgomery Mall from downtown. Those buses were my favorite back in the day but were hard to find. I remember the highback red seats and no back door. I have a pic of #105 at New Carrolton on the old R11 Greenbelt express which I recall riding. I'll add it to the photo gallery one of these days as I already scanned it.
Yeah the 100's were hard to find. I can't remember the one that I was one. It could have been 112 for all I know. This was around 1991 and I was on my way to work from Montgomery College to Montgomery Mall. I normally would take the bus to Twinbrook and then the C8 over to the mall but when that pulled in I rode that all the way to Silver Spring and caught the J2 to the mall. Those were the days when the bus stopped in front of Sears and not at the transit center.
The 100s were the only buses I didn't ride. In their final days they ran from Landover and one was almost always on the F2, then they went to FMR, then back to Landover and then gone, replaced by Onions.
Quote from: WES on August 07, 2008, 08:51:41 PM
In their final days they ran from Landover and one was almost always on the F2, then they went to FMR, then back to Landover and then gone, replaced by Onions.
This makes sense as my very last sighting of these buses was one that broke down on US route 1 in that area between Beltsville and Laurel.
Wes, if these Flxibles were anything like the hundreds that NJTransit had, then you missed a great bus. The TNJ/NJ Transit Flxibles were simply awesome. They had DD 8V71 engines and had incredible speed.
I recall seeing them on the 87 when that used to go into DC (which it still should!!!). I don't recall the engine but they didn't have the whine of a the detroit diesels that I knew, but it could be the 8V71, it had kind of a roar similar to the older 8000 series Flixlbes, the ones with the silver bumpers that rolled around DC until the very early 90's.
When my dad worked for a place in Kensington, his company Chartered a Metrobus to Baltimore and we had a 100 series. That was fun to ride up the BW Parkway. This was early 80's if I remember correctly.
Perry,
Although I didn't ride WMATA's 100 series Flxibles I did hear them and they indeed had the DD 8V71 engine. BTW - This is the same engine that the 1100 series GMCs had and that NYBS fishbowl (1481) that you Chris and I rode.
To answer some of the questions on my previous post:
1. Yes, the DC Transit fishbowl suburbans had 4 speed manual double-clutching transmissions but you would have a hard time catching up with them once they got into third gear. They would practically fly up 270 on the AEC route.
2. At the time the Franklin Avenue express ran 13th Street was not only one way during the rush hours but the traffic signals were synchronized so you could travel the length of 13th Street NW from Logan Circle to Piney Branch Road and not stop for any lights.
3. If you have the "A9" schedule I would like to see it. It should be dated in the 1960's or 70's.
Quote from: WayneNYC on August 07, 2008, 10:50:15 PM
Quote from: WES on August 07, 2008, 08:51:41 PM
In their final days they ran from Landover and one was almost always on the F2, then they went to FMR, then back to Landover and then gone, replaced by Onions.
This makes sense as my very last sighting of these buses was one that broke down on US route 1 in that area between Beltsville and Laurel.
Wes, if these Flxibles were anything like the hundreds that NJTransit had, then you missed a great bus. The TNJ/NJ Transit Flxibles were simply awesome. They had DD 8V71 engines and had incredible speed.
Yes, I rode both the Metro and NJT versions and I agree that the NJT models were very fast but also very loud rattle traps.
Quote from: rideonrulez on August 07, 2008, 07:50:21 AM
LOL I rode a 100 series before on the Q2 (I think it was #112 to be exact)! Also rode it on the N7/9 to Montgomery Mall from downtown. Those buses were my favorite back in the day but were hard to find. I remember the highback red seats and no back door. I have a pic of #105 at New Carrolton on the old R11 Greenbelt express which I recall riding. I'll add it to the photo gallery one of these days as I already scanned it.
Just in case you are interested, the "R" prefix originated with WMA transit which designated its Greenbelt service with an "R" and METRO just continued the tradition.
Thanks for the info. PSC/TNJ/NJ Transit had loads of GMC suburbans with manual transmissions which were also very fast once they got into the higher gears. Double-clutching is no joke. I actually had the opportunity to drive a bus with a manual tranny once. It was an Eagle and boy was the clutch hard to push. I'd have to agree that the NJTransit Flxibles were indeed rattletraps, especially in their last days, but I simply thought it was typical of new look Flxibles. At least the rattling was very much typical with NYCTA's new look Flxibles.
Hello everyone
Do anyone remember the P13 PENTAGON STATION / OXON HILL PARK AND RIDE via woodrow wilson bridge that was a hot line i rode that one time. has anyone else ?
I never rode it but I used to see it at the Pentagon but no one would ever remember it when I asked them about it! I'm glad someone else has seen it because I was starting to think I had invented a route in my mind.
I remember the P13. I saw it but never rode it unfortunately :-\ Then it dwarfed into the N11, N13 when the Green Line to Branch Ave opened.
I remember the P13 also, and from what I saw, hanging out at the Pentagon, it had decent ridership. I too never rode it, but I think this is one route that should come back, especially because of metrorail's over capacity issues.
I also remember the P13. I have a schedule of it somewhere. I'll have to find out where I packed them away, I don't think I tossed them.
A PG County/VA route over the bridge is still a practical idea.
Quote from: Perry on August 11, 2008, 11:38:10 PM
I also remember the P13. I have a schedule of it somewhere. I'll have to find out where I packed them away, I don't think I tossed them.
A PG County/VA route over the bridge is still a practical idea.
NH-2 King Street to National Harbor. Doesn't seem like a bad idea. There's already a water taxi between Alexandria and the Harbor. Is the second span of the bridge open yet?
Hello everyone
Yes i did ride tha P13 it was a nice route it had good ridership cause it had folks from pentagon that lived n oxon hill an southern md on that line. if u can find that copy can you please post it i want to see it
Quote from: Perry on August 11, 2008, 11:38:10 PM
I have a schedule of it somewhere. I'll have to find out where I packed them away, I don't think I tossed them.
*puts on rubber gloves and busts down Perry'sdoor*
Quote from: Tristan on August 12, 2008, 02:10:33 PM
Quote from: Perry on August 11, 2008, 11:38:10 PM
I have a schedule of it somewhere. I'll have to find out where I packed them away, I don't think I tossed them.
*puts on rubber gloves and busts down Perry'sdoor*
I have a copy too but don't be bustin down my door!!
I have to think where I put my schedules. I've moved a few times so it could be anywhere. Chris may have the best chance to beat me to it.
I'll just have a couple showgirls distract you so there won't be any knockin' down my door!!
That works too.
Some of the old schedules are still online.
Here are some that I found:
14A, 14B, 14C, 14D- www.wmata.com/Timetables/VA/14.pdf
Z1, Z4 - www.wmata.com/timetables/md/Z1-Z4.pdf
B11 - www.wmata.com/Timetables/md/b11.pdf
Z7, Z17 - www.wmata.com/timetables/md/Z7-19.pdf
C18 - www.wmata.com/timetables/md/C18.pdf
N7 - www.wmata.com/timetables/md/N7.pdf
And of course X6 is still on here - www.wmata.com/timetables/dc/X6PDF.PDF
H5,H7 - www.wmata.com/timetables/dc/h5-7.pdf
5B - www.wmata.com/timetables/dc/5b.pdf
I thought of a route on my LONG ride home today. Do you guys remember the Z19? It operated between Silver Spring Station (PM only)-Takoma Station-Seventh Day Adventist World Headquarters (off route 29). It had a weird schedule too, 1 am trip that started at Takoma Station to the Seventh Day Adventist. The pm schedule was a little more weird though, there was a 12:10pm trip from Seventh Day Adventist that operated Friday only, there was a 4:41pm trip that operated Monday-Thursday and a 5:45pm trip that operated Monday-Friday.
Quote from: rideonrulez on August 29, 2008, 06:19:26 PM
I thought of a route on my LONG ride home today. Do you guys remember the Z19? It operated between Silver Spring Station (PM only)-Takoma Station-Seventh Day Adventist World Headquarters (off route 29). It had a weird schedule too, 1 am trip that started at Takoma Station to the Seventh Day Adventist. The pm schedule was a little more weird though, there was a 12:10pm trip from Seventh Day Adventist that operated Friday only, there was a 4:41pm trip that operated Monday-Thursday and a 5:45pm trip that operated Monday-Friday.
I do have a MD system map from 2001 with the Z19 on there. I might be able to find the online schedule if its in the archives. I think I downloaded it, but I'll check again.
The Z19 was cool, I never rode it though. The first time I saw it coming down Carroll Ave. I was like, WTF? It was neat because to see RTS's running through that school off of Carroll Ave.
I need to look for my schedules. I know for a fact I had the Z19, but then I could try to find the P13. Hmmm, maybe I'll do that in a little bit once I get Joey to bed. It's only 8:23 PM here, so don't worry thinking that he's still up close to midnight!!! LOL
Quote from: Perry on August 29, 2008, 11:23:41 PM
The Z19 was cool, I never rode it though. The first time I saw it coming down Carroll Ave. I was like, WTF? It was neat because to see RTS's running through that school off of Carroll Ave.
I have the schedule (that's why I knew the times!!). The school off Carroll Ave was called "Takoma Academy" back then. Not sure if it is still called that or not. I did ride this route one day on an RTS from what I remembered.
There is still a school called Takoma Academy that always asks for used cars on WTOP...not sure if it's the same (though it's highly likely).
Quote from: Tristan on August 30, 2008, 12:45:24 AM
There is still a school called Takoma Academy that always asks for used cars on WTOP...not sure if it's the same (though it's highly likely).
It is the same.
I remember riding the Z6 to Rockville, we would get off the Y8 at Randoplh rd and it would show up a few minutes later. I miss the T6 route it was the "scenic" route to Friendship Heights from Rockville, also dont forget about the old useless T4. I remember i had to ride check the 14 smartmover to Tysons corner.
The T6-the rubber-tired subway. LOL I used to catch that a lot from Twinbrook to Montgomery College in the late 80's, early 90'. Every type of bus was put on that route, Fishbowls, MAN Artics, New Look Flxibles, but normally RTS's.
The T4 when I saw it used to run either baby Metros or baby New Looks. I do remember when those buses used to go all the way down to Dupont Circle. I never took them all the way down there, but that was one heck of a route.
Quote from: Perry on September 12, 2008, 12:20:05 AM
The T6-the rubber-tired subway. LOL I used to catch that a lot from Twinbrook to Montgomery College in the late 80's, early 90'. Every type of bus was put on that route, Fishbowls, MAN Artics, New Look Flxibles, but normally RTS's.
The T4 when I saw it used to run either baby Metros or baby New Looks. I do remember when those buses used to go all the way down to Dupont Circle. I never took them all the way down there, but that was one heck of a route.
I rode the T4 all the way to Dupont Circle for meetings in DC several times when my office was located on Rollins Avenue in South Rockville. Sometimes Flex suburbans were assigned to the route. Southbound It was "limited stop" when it hit the DC line and only stopped to discharge passengers. It reversed the pattern northbound and only picked-up passengers in DC; the first discharge stop was Friendship Heights as I recall.
If only I were born 20 years earlier :). Not saying some of the routes today aren't good, it's just that hearing about the past routes makes me want to know how Metro came to be today.
Metrorail caused a lot of the changes. Others were just do to lack of ridership or other reconfigurations. All systems do that.
The pros and cons of change. Metrorail was good, but sacrified alot of bus routes. Back then, everyone wanted service, then NIMBYISM, SUVs, and quaint surburbia pretty much killed things. Now, since gas prices are fluxuating, people want the service again. It's just one big dilemma and headache. Increased ridership, limited resources to expand or add services, failing economy. To only be back in the 90s.
Quote from: Perry on August 04, 2008, 11:32:00 PM
Let's see:
R4: Calverton to Crystal City. I remember riding that one as a youngin
J8: Beltway Plaza to Wheaton Plaza. Rode this one to death before the C2 was extended from Montgomery Mall to Beltway Plaza. Back then they wanted the bus to bypass PG Plaza and head straight down Univ. Blvd. as it does now, but a lot of civic associations including one my dad was involved with persuaded the board otherwise and maintained that service.
Q8: Montgomery Mall to Silver Spring
R2: Brookland to Calverton with short turns at PG Plaza
R6: Brookland to Lewisdale
R7: Brookland to Highview peak hours only
F9: Lewisdale to DC via Riggs Road. I remember my dad taking this bus a lot
M6: Rosslyn to Union Station. Now pretty much the 38B. I rode this a bit when my mom worked in Rosslyn in the late 70's.
D everything to Sibley Hospital. I think literally every D line ran out there at some point.
J2/4: Montgomery Mall to Beltway Plaza
C8: Aspen Hill to Montgomery Mall
C6: Montgomery College to Aspen Hill
Oh man I could go on and on, the memories!!
You mentioned the R2, R6 and R7. You also mentioned the R4 from Calverton to Crystal City. The was also at one time an R4 on the same line as the R2, R6 and R7 and there was also an R5. The R4 and the R5 went from Hyattsville to Brookland (the R5 was a rush hour only, limited stop version of the R4). The R4 only ran on weekdays. The line was the Queens Chapel Road Line.
While we are in the area there was also the F5 which is the current R3 from Prince George's Plaza to Fort Totten station exclusive of the portion of the route in Lewisdale and ran during rush hours. Also the F2 was the only bus line that was not a shuttle or mini bus that did not serve a Metro station until the opening of the Green Line to Greenbelt.
Actually, the F2 did go to Takoma, then Cheverly you might have meant the F8. The F8 ran from P.G. Hospital to Langley Park, without going to Cheverly Station (don't know why). Then when the Green line opened, the F8 was extended the Cheverly, the F2 departed from Cheverly, via Tuxedo Road, going through the back of PG Hospital Center, continuing their route to Takoma. The F8 took over the portion the F2 route from Cheverly to PG Hospital. The interesting thing about the F2/F8 was that the F8 used mostly 30 footers back in the day and the F2 mostly 40 footers. Today the F2 uses 30 footers alot and the F8 uses 40 footers.
When the AM Generals were around, the F8 used the 35 footers most of the time.
Quote from: WES on October 27, 2008, 10:56:28 PM
Actually, the F2 did go to Takoma, then Cheverly you might have meant the F8. The F8 ran from P.G. Hospital to Langley Park, without going to Cheverly Station (don't know why). Then when the Green line opened, the F8 was extended the Cheverly, the F2 departed from Cheverly, via Tuxedo Road, going through the back of PG Hospital Center, continuing their route to Takoma. The F8 took over the portion the F2 route from Cheverly to PG Hospital. The interesting thing about the F2/F8 was that the F8 used mostly 30 footers back in the day and the F2 mostly 40 footers. Today the F2 uses 30 footers alot and the F8 uses 40 footers.
You're right. I must have had a brain slowdown. It was the F8.
Quote from: Tristan on August 30, 2008, 12:45:24 AM
There is still a school called Takoma Academy that always asks for used cars on WTOP...not sure if it's the same (though it's highly likely).
Its the same school.
My EX graduated from there, many many years ago
Quote from: WMAveteran on September 20, 2008, 03:42:33 PM
Quote from: Perry on September 12, 2008, 12:20:05 AM
The T6-the rubber-tired subway. LOL I used to catch that a lot from Twinbrook to Montgomery College in the late 80's, early 90'. Every type of bus was put on that route, Fishbowls, MAN Artics, New Look Flxibles, but normally RTS's.
The T4 when I saw it used to run either baby Metros or baby New Looks. I do remember when those buses used to go all the way down to Dupont Circle. I never took them all the way down there, but that was one heck of a route.
I rode the T4 all the way to Dupont Circle for meetings in DC several times when my office was located on Rollins Avenue in South Rockville. Sometimes Flex suburbans were assigned to the route. Southbound It was "limited stop" when it hit the DC line and only stopped to discharge passengers. It reversed the pattern northbound and only picked-up passengers in DC; the first discharge stop was Friendship Heights as I recall.
Years & years ago, the T4 & T6 operated from Riggs Park/Ivy City up to Rockville.
They shifted to Dupont Circle when the REDLINE was extended from Farragut North to DUPONT, and the E2,E3,E4 was created to operate ONLY in DC.